How to prevent lumbar muscle strain?

  Low back pain is a common disease, and according to statistics, almost 80% of adults have experienced low back pain in their lifetime. In Europe and the United States, the cost due to low back pain is the second most expensive of all diseases, second only to the flu, and the loss of social labor caused by the resulting sick leave is the first of all diseases. In China, patients with low back pain account for about 30% of orthopedic outpatient visits. Long-term pressure overload on the lumbar region is the main cause of chronic low back pain.  What we often call low back pain has several explanations from doctors. It may be a muscle strain caused by long-term fatigue; it may also be a rupture of the protective layer between lumbar vertebrae caused by excessive pressure, resulting in nerve compression; it may also be due to degeneration of a certain area of injury and pathological proliferation of its surrounding tissues to achieve balance, etc.  In clinical practice, the more common type of lumbar pain is lumbar muscle strain. The human lumbar spine is made up of various joints and ligaments, and the muscles of the low back play an important role in helping to enhance its stability. Lumbar muscle strain is an inflammatory injury that occurs when the muscles of the low back become fatigued after prolonged tensing and stretching. It is manifested as a sudden onset of lumbar pain after bending hard, picking a heavy load or lifting a heavy object, and spasm and tenderness of the muscles on both sides of the lumbar spine, suggesting that it may be an acute lumbar sprain or lumbar strain.  Prevention of lumbar muscle strain is important. First of all, attention should be paid to avoid some actions that can easily cause “flashing waist”, such as bending over to hold heavy objects, repeatedly bending over, etc.; secondly, once the lumbar sprain, rest must be taken to prevent the spine from constantly moving to interfere with the repair of damaged soft tissues; in addition, good posture must be maintained in daily life and work, and long-term seated occupants must maintain correct sitting posture. People who need to bend over for a long time because of their work, such as nurses, clerks, drivers, etc., must keep the lower back flat so that the body’s center of gravity is located at the hip and foot, which is less likely to cause lumbar muscle fatigue. For the general population, in daily life, whether bending over to get things, up and down stairs, climbing with weight and other activities, it is necessary to maintain a good posture in order to prevent lumbar muscle strain.  In terms of treatment, the symptoms caused by lumbar strain can be relieved by bed rest, medication, physical therapy, massage, continuous traction, strengthening the functional exercise of the lumbar back muscles, and changing the body position and living habits, and other conservative methods. The most effective drugs are non-steroidal anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, muscle relaxants, and local closed drugs, etc. However, using them for too long will lead to drug dependence and long-term use is not recommended. Physiotherapy and acupuncture can achieve the effect of activating blood circulation and unblocking the meridians, which can be tried. Tui Na in Chinese medicine can only be carried out on the basis of clear diagnosis and stable condition. Some unregulated tui na not only cannot treat the disease, but also will aggravate the condition and delay the treatment.